Justin Baldoni can obtain messages between Blake Lively and Taylor Swift that relate to the filming of It Ends With Us, a court has ruled.
U.S. District Judge Lewis Liman found on Wednesday that the information is relevant because Lively identified Swift as a person in her orbit who would likely have knowledge about complaints or discussions regarding the working environment on the set of the movie.
Lively had moved for a protective order relieving her from producing the information Baldoni’s lawyers sought, arguing that the communications are irrelevant.
The court disagreed. It pointed to Lively citing Swift as possibly having information that can be used in the case.
“The requests for messages with Swift regarding the film and this action are reasonably tailored to discover information that would prove or disprove Lively’s harassment and retaliation claims,” Liman wrote.
The communications Baldoni can obtain will be limited to messages about the movie and the legal battle, according to the ruling.
Discovery in the case remains ongoing. Lively’s legal team has said it will produce all documents that Baldoni’s lawyers seek, except for communications with Swift, by the end of the week if they turn over all video footage related to the movie and unredacted versions of communications cited in their revised complaint. The offer was refused.
Swift’s involvement in the dueling lawsuits relates, in part, to suggestions from Lively that Baldoni altered a rooftop scene at the beginning of the film. Lively invited the director to her New York City home in 2023 to discuss the script changes. Once there, Baldoni was surprised to see Lively’s husband, Ryan Reynolds, and close friend, Swift, according to his lawsuit, which cites communications that include the name “Taylor.” The megastars praise Lively’s version of the scene, pressuring Baldoni to accept the revisions, he alleged.
